Humidity and air cooling machine



Jan. 25, 1938. .1. M. BARRETT HUMIDITY AND AIR COOLING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 26, 1932 """IIIIJJ I INVE NZOR BY. TTORNEV Jan. 25, 1938.

Filed Aug. 26, 1932 2 8d i f 8 'l i 8. 5 I g a; h 7 4 b I I I o I I F l 0 7 o I I l I 66 I 34 o j -l 29 w I l I lla i 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 11v VENTOR mw/ TTORNEV Jan. 25, 1938. J BARRETT 2,106,560

HUMIDITY AND AIR COOLING MACHINE Filed Aug. 26, 1952 '5 Sheets-Sheet 5 A TTOR/VEV Patented Jan. 25, 1938 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HUMIDITY AND AIR COOLING MACHINE Joseph M. Barrett, East Cleveland, Ohio ADDlicationAugust 26', 1932, Serial No. 630,493

3 Claims.

plurality of moving, water carrying means, each a traveling in a separate plane than its adjacent member, each moved through a defined path and having a portion of their surface alternatively subjected to contact with a body of water and then to forced air currents. I disclose the claim means for automatically operating and controlling the unit, cooling the water, cleaning the air,

and for supplying water either manually or automatically to the apparatus. a

My presentinvention provides a humidifier or dehumidifier adapted for portable use or, if permanently located, to have automatic water supply means and disposal of surplus. In addition to the step cone pulleys with water carrying belts I provide a cooling means subjected to a refrigerant and partly immersed in the water storage space and partly contacted by the recirculated air within the apparatus.

A feature of my arrangement is the provision of a plurality of fan units in tandem, through whose use with a slow speed motor I reduce the tip speed noise but maintain the velocity and quantity of air handled.

I provide water carrying belts having projections or other provisions for carrying drippings and spreading means for the splash.

Numerous features are provided in the way of assembling and/or removing the assemblies andsub-assemblies from the unit, with control means for the water supply, cooling system, etc.

Other objects will become apparent through a study of the drawings and specification. In the drawings I have indicated a preferred embodiment of my invention, although I do not wish to be limited thereby.

Fig. 1 shows a side elevation, in section of a humidifying machine embodying the invention. Fig. 2 shows the same machine, utilized as an air cooler. Figs. 3 and 4 show sectional details of a part of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 shows a plan view, looking down, of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is an end elevation of a pair of belt carrying pulleys of Fig. 1.

and otherwise-distributing water; and a collecting Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are elevational details of Fig. 1.

Figs. 10, 11 and 12 are details of different belt constructions.

Figs. 10a. and no show further views, respec tively, of the belt construction illustrated in Figs. 5 10 and 11.

Fig. 13 is a somewhat diagrammatic representation of an air humidifying and cooling machine equipped with automatic control.

Fig. 14 shows a detail of Fig. 1. 10

Figs. 1 and 2 show side elevations of the apparatus disclosing features of assembly and construction. Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are further views illustrating the general arrangement and construction. Fig. 6 is an end elevation showing the 15 assembly of pulleys ll, Ila and water carrying belts 21, and particularly therelative location and size of the collecting pan 25 positioned in a substantially horizontal position below the'upper of the two pulley units ll, Ila. This pan is provided with means for distributing through numerous holes uniformly over the air blasts from the fans I6, Ilia, the water which is thrown oil from the pulleys and other means into the pan 25. Reference to Fig. 13 shows a side elevation of the assembly and pan, while Fig. 8 is a plan view 25 showing the plan shape of the pan conforming to the stepped reduction of the pulley unit assembly. I

Fig. 7 illustrates supporting structure for the pulleys, while Fig. 8 is a detail of the partition 1. Figs. 10, 10a, 11, 11a and 12 are views of different forms of water carrying belts with projections and other means for entraining the water more than merely by the absorption qualities of the belts.

At Fig. 13 is shown aside elevation of the unit, clearly depicting the multiple fan blade assembly positioned substantially centered vertically between the two assemblies of stepped pulleys and adapted to pass forced currents of air axially relative to the pulley shafts, through the assembly of water carrying belts, and beyond them throughthe screen member 'I into the cooled portion of the cabinet, where the air passes ad- 45 jacent that part of a refrigeration coil 32 above the liquid in which a portion of the coil is immersed. In this same figure is shown diagrammatically the connection to the refrigerator, and a thermostat or temperature responsive means for controlling the refrigerating means. In the 13 is clearly shown how the assembly of cooling and humidifying means is contained in the removable container 2 which m be lifted out as a unit from the outer housing and below 55 this is positioned the container 24 adapted to collect overfiow of water through the pipe 23.

The complete unit shown can be used as a.

portable air humidifier and air scrubberor a portable air cooler, air dehumidifier and air scrubber. Due to its relative small size and weight it can be moved from place to place as desired.

When used as a portable air humidifier andv I flow through an opening 417 in the bottom of the container untilfthe water level rises and forms a seal over opening 4b. When removing or installing container 6, a valve mechanism 4, 4a, 5 and 5a provides a seal or shutoff for opening 4b in cap 4. If container 6 is positioned as shown by Fig. 1, then the lower extension of valve stem 5 bears on bottom plate 2} as shown in Fig. 4, thus moving the valve 5a from contact with seat 4a, and providing a passage through 4b for water fiow. When container 6 is raised, the weight of parts 5 and 5a cause valve Sa'to seat on 4a, providing'a shutoff means. When refilling the container 6, the cap 4 is removed so as to allow quick entry of water by furnishing suflicient area for quick egress of air.

With container 6 filled, water will fiow into storage space 2e, forming a reservoir of water for continually wetting the belt means Ill, any excess water passing through pipe 23 to a collecting pan 24. When water is supplied through container 6, then screw I8 is adjusted to hold valve 2I in bearing contact with a seating surface on 22a,'thus stopping any flow of water through 22a and 22. The cone reels II, Ila, water carrying belt I0, and supporting structure 8, 26 are positioned as shown, the channel 'Ic, as shown in Fig. 8, holding vertical support 6 in position. For sake of clearness the support for holding the opposite bar 8 is not shown. The cone reel shafts I5, I5a are free to revolve in bearing 8a. An extension of shaft l5 has a suitable driving means I2, I4 actuated by motor means I3. Rotating motion imparted to shaft I5 causes the belts ID to have a portion of their surface submerged in water and then to pass through an area subjected to accelerated air currents. Each of the belts has a different lineal speed than its ad acent like member. The accelerated air currents wipe both sides of the water carrying belts I0, and furthermore make contact with any drops of water, this will cause the drops to collide with exposed surfaces of structure, wetting these surfaces, and in this way providing additional wetted surface for air currents to contact with.

The fan means is shown having a plurality of blade units. By the use of two or more fan blade units connected to the same drive shaft and running at the same speed, or by the use of two or more motor and blade units running at same speed or at difierent speeds, or fan blade units running at same speed but having different characteristics for each fan blade unit, it is possible to provide as much or more air delivery with a plurality of blade units in tandem position as shown and driven by a slow speed motor, as would be delivered by a single blade unit mounted on the shaft of a high speed motor.

Any fan noise caused by blade tip speed is ob-v jectionable in an apparatus for home and oflice' use. Using a slow speed motor or motors and having the fan blade units placed as shown, the incoming air velocity is accelerated by the first set of blades. The secondset of blades receive their air supply at somewhere near the velocity it leaves the first set-of blades and the quantity and the velocity of .air leaving the last set of blades is increased. This method compensates to a great extent for losses due to air slippage when one set of blades is used, furthermore, the velocity of air leaving the first set of blades picks up free air from the area between the two blade units; thus the quantity of air delivered to second set of blades is greater than that entering first set of blades.

When machine is to be placed in a fixed or permanent location, then overflow means 23 or 24a can be piped to sewer. Water supply under a hydraulic head can be connected to pipe 22. The fioat means 20 will then actuate valve means 2I, and in effect, cause water level in storage space 2e to'remain near constant.

When apparatus is to be used as an air cooler and the maximum cooling capacity is not required, then water container 6 can be removed and the space it occupied filled with ice or refrigerant. The water from melting ice fills stor-' age space 2e and causes belts I0 to be saturated with water at a temperature lower than the incoming air. This furnishes a double efiect inasmuch as the air leaving the fans makes contact with the water laden belts tending to reduce the temperature of the air. Part of the air passes out of machine structure after contacting the belts, a goodly portion however is directed through the mesh in partition I and makes contact with the ice or refrigerant in space 6b shown in Fig. l. The action just described scrubs and cools the air and at the same time, effects considerable dehumidification by reducing the air temperature below its dew point.

When the maximum ice cooling capacity is desired, container 6, also cone and belt assembly 8, I0,"I I, 26 can be removed, the partition wall I moved from channel Ia to channel lb as in Fig. 5, and the space formerly occupied by container 6 and belt means can be filled with ice which in turn, is subjected to air currents from fan means I6, I60 and I1.

The walls of housing 2, 2a, 2b, 2c are the same distance from the inside of outside casing I, la, lb, Ic; in this manner providing an air space. When ice is used as shown by Figs. 2 and 5, the exterior of walls 2, 2a, 2b, 2c and bottom 2) will collect moisture which will collect in pan 24.

When mechanical refrigerating of air is desired, the unit should be assembled as shown by Fig. 13. The cooling coil 32 would be placed so that a portion of the coil is immersed in the storage water, the balance of coil would be placed as shown where it would be subjected to air from fan I 6, I6a, the air passing through meshlike partition I. The coil can be made removable for summer use if desired. If coil 32 has a refrigerant passing through it, then that part immersed in water as shown by level 36 will tend to cool the water in the space 2e. The belt III will then carry a heavy film of cold water. The air from fans I6, I6a will contact these cold, wet belts, dust or pollen will cling to the wet surfaces, and the air making contact with belts will be greatly reduced in temperature. A portion of the air from fans I6, I6a will travel to space occupied by coil 32, andwill again give up some of its heat before passing out of the machine.

When the air passing through the space occupied by belt I0 and coil 32 has its temperature reduced below its dew point dehumidification will occur. The moisture dropping out of the air will go to water storage space 2e, where it can overflow through conduit 23 to pan 24. The compressor and power -means, as shown by 33, 34, 35, 35a in Fig. 13 can be any conventional type.

A temperature responsive control means for op-v eration of the cooling means is shown in Fig. 13. High voltage current is carried by power lines 31, 31a, 31b, 38, 381). A solenoid switch 39 with contacts 39a makes or breaks the circuit between lines 31, 31a. Switch 39 is energized by low voltage current when element 45 bends so that contact 45d makes a contact with point 40a. Element 'can be the well known bimetal construction having laminations of one metal of low expansion and one metal of high expansion qualities. A transformer 43 reduces the high voltage current to alow voltage current for operation of solenoid switch 39, and thermo-responsive switch The thermo-responsive element 45 is set for a predetermined temperature. This adjustment is not shown. When the temperature of surrounding air is great enough to cause unequal expansion of the two metals constituting element 45,

- then 45 bends as shown by dotted line 45a, making a path for current to flow from line 42 to line 40, thereby energizing or deenergizcing coil on solenoid switch 39, and thereby making or breaking the circuit between lines 31, 31a, in turn, caus ing motor 35 to be put in motion or motion stopped.

The complete unit shown by Fig. 1 consists of several sub-units; container 6 is removable as a unit; mesh partition I is a removable unit; water carrying means 8I0--l l-26 is a removable unit; container 28 is removable; the housing structure 2, 2a, 2b, 2c, 2! with all contained apparatus is removable through top opening in walls I, la, lb, lc.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:-'

1. In an air conditioning apparatus, the combination of a side and bottom wall structure forming water storage space, an air accelerating means, a pair of pulley units located one above the other, the lower unit placed so that a portion of its surface will be submerged in water in said storage space, endless belt means interconnecting the pulley units, means for revolving said pulleys, and a refrigerating means placed in such a position that part of its surface is subjected to air currents from the air accelerating means and a portion of said means submerged in the water storage space.

2. In an air conditioning apparatus, the combination of a side and bottom wall structure forming water storage space, an air accelerating means, a pair of pulley units located one above the other, the lower unit placed so that a portion of its surface will be submerged in water in said storage space, endless belt means interconnecting the pulley units, means for revolving said pulleys, a refrigerating coil placed in such a position that part of its surface is subjected to air currents from the air accelerating means and a portion of said coil is submerged in the water storage space, and a thermostat controlling the refrigerating means.

3. The combination in an air conditioner of a water supply means, an air humidifying device consisting of a pair of pulley units and with belts interconnecting said units, one of the units being positioned above the other, thelower unit being positioned so that a portion of its surface will be submerged in said water supply means, means for revolving said pulleys, a structural device that will hold and position said units, and water collecting means located directly beneath the upper pulley unit, said water collecting means having a plurality of openings to dispose of collected water in the form of droplets.

- JOSEPH M. BARRETT. 

